Khadra Haji Ismail Geid (Khadra Xaaji Ismaaciil Geydh)

Who is she?

Khadra Haji Ismail Geid is a Somaliland politician (Wikipedia, Khadra Haji Ismail Geid). In 2011 she became mayor of Gabiley, the first woman mayor in Somaliland (UNPO, 3 June 2011). She was born in Gabiley District in 1964 or 1965 (Wikipedia). Allsanaag places her family in the Sa'ad Musa (Habar Awal, Isaaq) (Allsanaag, 29 March 2018).

Local council

In 1969 her father ran for a parliamentary seat in Gabiley (UNPO, 15 September 2011). In the 2002 local elections she joined Kulmiye, led by Ahmed Silanyo (same source). She won a council seat in Gabiley, the first woman elected to a local council in Somaliland (BBC Somali, 28 November 2016). In 2006 she became deputy mayor (same source). Under Somaliland's 2002 local government law, the council chair is the mayor (Somaliland Law).

Mayor of Gabiley

In May 2011 the mayor, Aden Muhumed, was removed over corruption allegations (Hiiraan Online, 28 May 2011). The district council then elected her acting mayor (same source). In September 2011 UNPO reported a 72% approval rating for her (UNPO). In November 2011 she and the regional governor began building a guest house on land bought for the purpose (Somaliland Post). In February 2012 elders gave her a certificate of honour for new roads and the expanded council offices (Haatuf, 17 February 2012).

Change of mayor, March 2012

On 10 March 2012, 12 councillors tried to meet to remove her; police stopped them and arrested them (Araweelo News). On 14 March she chaired a council session that elected Ahmed Muhumed Qalib as mayor with 16 votes (Saxafi Media). She congratulated him and became deputy mayor again (same source). On 31 March the First Lady, Amina Weris, honoured her year in office (Somaliland Post).

Later posts

In January 2016 President Silanyo made her Director General of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs (Horn Tribune, 3 January 2016). When President Muse Bihi closed that ministry in December 2017, the outgoing minister handed its work to her (BBC Somali, 14 December 2017). In February 2018 she was named deputy chair of the Quality Control Commission (Hiiraan Online, 22 February 2018). She declined the post days later for personal reasons (Baligubadle Media, 25 February 2018).

In short

Somaliland's first woman councillor and first woman mayor (Gabiley, 2011 to 2012), and later a senior official in the presidency.